quote:
Originally posted by GoFish:
quote:
Originally posted by _Joy_:
. His church nor God nor Christians around the world nor the teachings of Christ were involved in this crime.
Yet the writer of this article felt compelled to go with the headline "MINISTER caught..." &
Joy,
Perhaps the writer of the article feels as I do: That the congregation and folks like you should be even more ticked off than I am over the hypocrisy amongst church leaders. They should formulate a strategy to deal with these kinds of people.
Instead, we have really nice people like you and Dix who dismiss the act saying the criminal was obviously "not really a Christian" and putting this act off on the Horned Boogie Man.
No, this guy likely thought himself a devout Christian and, at this very moment, he (and his congregation and you and Dix) are utterly confident that the Creator of the Universe will step in on his behalf and rescue him from the depths of hell.
THIS IS MADNESS!
There is barely a day that goes by that we don't read of some popular anti-gay church leader who had sex and shares crack with a gay man, preys upon children, beats his wife, or local deacons who secretly download child porn.
This incident is yet another long, sad string of incidents that strongly suggests (what we call "evidence" in scientific circles) that Christianity does not work as an effective means of dictating and enforcing morality.
First of all, this is an article about a married couples minister in some town in Texas I've never heard of by a news station I've never heard of. Well done & purpose served - to stir the pot, but lends little to the argument (IF this a correct expansion on your point) that the Holy Spirit is ineffective in the life of a believer. This is ONE fallen minister among millions. We don't hear about the ministers that live a life dedicated to Christ and His call on their lives. Good news rarely makes the front page.
Secondly, I seriously doubt that most Christians feel they have the power to dictate or enforce anything, certainly not morality. Have you looked at the state this country and it's leaders are in lately? Morality is in short supply.
Thirdly, surely you are not saying that Christians have the market cornered on hypocrisy? I see it from people of all faiths as well as those with no faith all the time.
Fourth, nobody has excused this man's actions. Everyone has the freedom to choose. You don't get a pass because Satan has been working harder on you than someone else this week. "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." <1 Cor 10:13>
Fifth, God frowns heavily on crimes against children. "But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." <Matt 18:6>
Lastly, the Holy Spirit may not be evidenced in this man's life, but He is in mine. Your words nor your scientific evidence will change that. I love you, friend of mine, but that is the truth. Science is science & it's cool, but God made me whole. Science cannot explain that.